ALLEN PARK -- It was really no surprise to see Jeff Backus back at practice on Thursday for the first time since he injured a hamstring in the Nov. 18 game.

The Detroit Lions left tackle is a war horse.

Backus broke his streak of 186 straight starts when he missed the Thanksgiving game.

"He worked some. We'll see where he's at as he works through it. If there's ever anyone that's going to get back before a projected time it will be him, I would say,'' offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said.

Advertisement

"We don't have anything to base that on cause he's never missed a game before. I would be surprised if he's not out there in the near future, don't know if it's this week, next or whatever.''

Backus was listed as practicing on a limited basis, but he was going through all the basic drills in the early part of practice that is open to the media.

After practice it's become routine -- even when he doesn't participate -- for him to work with rookie Riley Reiff, who filled in for him against Houston.

For anyone who knows him, this is not a surprise.

"You just know what kind of guy you have, you already know what kind of guy Jeff is,'' center Dominic Raiola said. "He knows if he can't be out there the next guy is going to step in and go do it. What else can he do but to go help him?

"I never saw Jeff so hurt before that game last week and he was so involved in trying to help us, getting us water -- a 12-year vet we're talking about who started every game in his career -- he did everything he could.

"That's the good thing about us is that if we're not in there we're doing everything we can to help the next guy in,'' Raiola said.

Backus would rather play than talk to the media. But on Tuesday, he said he thought he had a chance to play on Sunday.

Titus, Day 2

Titus Young, who had been sent home for nine days and was inactive for the Thanksgiving game, was back at practice for the second straight day.

On Thursday, the wide receiver was taking some reps with the first-team offense. On Wednesday, he was with the second team.

Just because he's practicing doesn't mean he will be active on Sunday. Coach Jim Schwartz said Young has to earn his way back onto the active roster.

Linehan said the Young situation has not been a distraction for the offense.

"No, we're moving forward. I thought it was one of our better offensive days, even though we didn't win the game (on Thanksgiving),'' Linehan said.

Fox 2 sports reporter Woody Woodriffe said he spotted Young after practice going around the edge of the practice field picking up trash, putting it in the pocket of his hoodie and then dumping it into the trash can.

Young is expected to talk with the media on Friday.

Delmas back at work

Louis Delmas took a step Thursday toward playing on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.

Delmas, who has a lingering knee injury, practiced on a limited basis Thursday. He stretched along the sidelines with trainers and then took part in a defensive backs drill. He will likely be listed on the daily injury report as limited. He had not practiced on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Delmas played on Thanksgiving on a limited basis due to swelling in his knee. Previously, he had missed three straight games and has only played four this season.

Ins and outs

Cliff Avril (back) is on his normal practice schedule. He practiced Thursday, but was out Tuesday and Wednesday.

Mikel Leshoure (ankle) and Corey Williams (knee) were also back, but on a limited basis.

The only two missing Lions were Kyle Vanden Bosch (neck) and Jonte Green (illness). It was Vanden Bosch's first appearance on the injury report this week.